The body of a womanising 19th century Australian statesman has been dug up in order to resolve a paternity case.

The remains of Charles Cameron Kingston, whose behaviour caused a scandal when he was the premier of South Australia in the 1890s, were exhumed from a cemetery in Adelaide and will be subjected to DNA testing.

The unusual exhumation was requested by a prominent businessman and his sister, who believe that they are descendants of an illegitimate child believed to have been fathered by the politician.